Extracting data from dead mac to new mac

A few months ago my old 2008 MBP had a failing logic board (so it appears) and passed away... I now am a proud owner of new MBP, yet I would love to get a lot of my music/docs/apps/misc off of the old one and onto the new.

So far I have tried starting the older MBP in target disk mode while connected via firewire to the other mac, but nothing comes up.

I guess it's looking like I'm going to have to get dirty and open the old sucker up and retrieve that hard drive. I would really rather not have to do that as I do not own the proper tools and wouldn't know what to do with the HD once I have it.

Does anyone have any ideas on how I could rescue my data? I'd ultimately like to wipe the hard drive as well and sell the whole thing for parts.

A few months ago my old 2008 MBP had a failing logic board (so it appears) and passed away... I now am a proud owner of new MBP, yet I would love to get a lot of my music/docs/apps/misc off of the old one and onto the new.

So far I have tried starting the older MBP in target disk mode while connected via firewire to the other mac, but nothing comes up.

I guess it's looking like I'm going to have to get dirty and open the old sucker up and retrieve that hard drive. I would really rather not have to do that as I do not own the proper tools and wouldn't know what to do with the HD once I have it.

Does anyone have any ideas on how I could rescue my data? I'd ultimately like to wipe the hard drive as well and sell the whole thing for parts.

thanks!

Assuming your MBP is the unibody version, here are the instructions for removing your HDD. Pretty straightforward and easy. Ifixit sells the tools (torx bit essentially) if you don't have one. Then all you need is an external case and you are good to go.
OWC is a potential source for the case.